Police report details Michigan football player Darryl Stonum's drunken driving arrest

Stonum, 21, who is suspended from the team, was sentenced Friday in 15th District Court in Ann Arbor to two years probation after pleading guilty last week to operating while visibly impaired second offense.

He also received a suspended sentence of 365 days in jail, meaning if he violates probation, he could be put behind bars.

Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, a charge of driving with a suspended license is set to be dismissed provided Stonum successfully completes a strict sobriety court program.

Stonum

However, Stonum's legal issues aren't resolved. On Thursday morning, the day before he was sentenced, Stonum was ticketed by Ann Arbor police for driving with a suspended license.

The university police report recently obtained by AnnArbor.com provides new details on the May 6 traffic stop in Ann Arbor that led to Stonum's latest conviction.

It started at about 2:25 a.m., the report says, when officers saw a black Dodge Avenger with a Texas license plate traveling south on State Street with its fog lights on, but no headlights. The car was traveling "well below" the posted 25 mph speed limit and crossed the double yellow line, the report says.

Police caught up with it on Maynard Street near East William Street and an officer activated his lights, prompting Stonum to pull over.

Stonum showed the officer a Texas driver’s license, but failed to provide the registration or proof of insurance for the car. Court records do not indicate he was ticketed for not providing the required documentation.

Stonum smelled mildly of alcohol, the report says, and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. His "speech was slow" and the officer had to repeat his questions to get answers, the report says.

Asked whether he had been drinking, Stonum said he was at Scorekeepers, a sports bar downtown, and had a couple of beers, but stopped drinking about 10 p.m., the report says. Stonum later was more specific, telling police he drank two beers and a Long Island iced tea while at the bar from 7 p.m. until about 1:45 a.m. or 2 a.m., the report says.

When officers did a computer check on Stonum, they determined that he was ineligible to drive in Michigan. Officers told Stonum to get out of the car so they could perform field sobriety tests.

Police say Stonum struggled with the tests. He could not keep his head still during the horizontal gaze test, the report says, lost count during the one leg stand and lost his balance on several occasions during the walk and turn. The report did say that Stonum's left ankle was sprained and he was taking pain medication for it.

Stonum submitted to a preliminary breath test that showed his blood-alcohol level was .13. In Michigan, it’s illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher.

Stonum was handcuffed and put in the police car. He told police that his female passenger could take the car, the report says. However, she told police that she had been drinking earlier that night and submitted to a preliminary breath test, showing her blood-alcohol level was .05.

She was cited for minor in possession and released at the scene, telling officers she would find someone else to take the car. The woman attends the University of Michigan and it's unclear how she knows Stonum. AnnArbor.com is not identifying her.

Roughly two hours after the traffic stop, two DataMaster breath tests were administered to Stonum, showing blood-alcohol levels of .13 and .12, records show.

Stonum, who is from Stafford, Texas, is entering his senior year with the football program. As part of Friday's sentence, he must submit to daily breathalyzer tests, random drug screens and is prohibited from driving for 45 days.

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has said Stonum must fulfill all his commitments to the legal system and football program before being considered for reinstatement.

Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.